“General Rosecrans,” said he, “has a great many friends; he fought the battle of Stone River and won a brilliant victory, and his advocates begin to grumble about his treatment.  Now, I will tell you what I have been thinking about.  If you will confirm Schofield in the Senate, I will remove him from the command in Missouri and send him down to Sherman.  That will satisfy the radicals.  Then I will send Rosecrans to Missouri, and that will please the latter’s friends.  In this way the whole thing can be harmonized.”  As soon as the Senate grasped the plan of the President there was no longer any opposition to the confirmation of Schofield.  He was sent to join Sherman in the South, Rosecrans was appointed to the command in Missouri, and everything worked harmoniously and pleasantly as the President had predicted and desired.

Secretary Welles remarks that “the President was a much more shrewd and accurate observer of the characteristics of men—­better and more correctly formed an estimate of their power and capabilities—­than the Secretary of State or most others.  Those in the public service he closely scanned, but was deliberate in forming a conclusion adverse to any one he had appointed.  In giving or withdrawing confidence he was discriminating and just in his final decision, careful never to wound unnecessarily the sensibilities of any of their infirmities, always ready to praise, but nevertheless firm and resolute in discharging the to him always painful duty of censure, reproof, or dismissal.”  As an instance of this sure judgment of the abilities and characters of men, Mr. Welles gives an anecdote relating to the naval movement under Admiral Du Pont, against Charleston, S.C.  “One day,” says Mr. Welles, “the President said to me that he had but slight expectation that we should have any great success from Du Pont.  ‘He, as well as McClellan,’ said Mr. Lincoln, ’hesitates—­has the slows.  McClellan always wanted more regiments; Du Pont is everlastingly asking for more gun-boats—­more iron-clads.  He will do nothing with any.  He has intelligence and system and will maintain a good blockade.  You did well in selecting him for that command, but he will never take Sumter or get to Charleston.  He is no Farragut, though unquestionably a good routine officer, who obeys orders and in a general way carries out his instructions.’” The outcome of events proved the soundness of Lincoln’s judgment.

Loyalty to his friends was always a strong trait of Lincoln’s character.  It was put to the proof daily during his life in Washington.  Mr. Gurdon S. Hubbard, in a brief but interesting memorial, relates one or two interviews held with the President, in which the simplicity of his character and his fidelity to old friendships appear very conspicuously.  Mr. Hubbard’s acquaintance with Lincoln was of long standing.  “I called on him in Washington the year of his inauguration,” says Mr. Hubbard, “and was alone with him for an hour or more.